Khairuddin’s bid to disqualify Jho Low's lawyer fixed on Dec 19

Ten documents have been filed in the High Court in Kuala Lumpur to question the validity of Francis Ng Aik Guan as counsel for 1MDB-linked businessperson Low Taek Jho – also known as Jho Low – as part of a suit filed by former Umno man Khairuddin Abu Hassan over the pink diamond affair.

Khairuddin filed suit last August against Rosmah Mansor, the wife of Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, Low and 1MDB to seek the return of the pink diamond worth US$23 million and an accompanying necklace worth US$4.3 million to 1MDB.

In the documents, Ng’s appearance as Low’s lawyer last September was called into question, since his memorandum of appearance is said to not contain an address and also, missing an NRIC number.

Another of the documents is based on a report in Singapore newspaper The Straits Times, which stated that the Federal Bureau of Investigation was looking for Low at the time of Ng’s appointment.

“So how could the lawyer be appointed when Jho Low's whereabouts are being sought?” Khairuddin asked in his application

This was revealed by Khairuddin's lawyer Syed Iskandar Syed Jaafar Al Mahdzar (photo) during case management before High Court deputy registrar K Pavani.

Pavani fixed Dec 19 for Justice Ahmad Zaidee Ibrahim to hear Khairuddin's  application to strike out the memorandum of appearance.

Lawyer Rishwant Singh appeared for Jho Low, Cains Tan appeared for 1MDB and Yazid Mustakim appeared for Rosmah.

Pavani also fixed Jan 18 for Ahmad Zaidee to hear Rosmah's and 1MDB's applications for a stay of proceedings and the striking out of Khairuddin's suit.

Syed Iskandar also revealed to reporters today that former Federal Court judge Gopal Sri Ram is appearing as counsel for Khairuddin.

In his lawsuit, Khairuddin alleged that between June 2013 and March 2014, Low had acted through his agent, Eric Tan, to purchase jewellery from Lorraine Schwartz in New York for the sum of US$27.3 million, which Khairuddin said were purchased using misappropriated 1MDB funds.

- Mkini